State of Kansas Archives: on Drugs

Many states have already taken initiative when it comes to marijuana legalization, with more than half of them decriminalizing possession of small amounts or legalizing its medical use. I am interested, from a legal standpoint, to see what the
data say about the states that have legalized recreational marijuana, particularly as they relate to decreases in violent crime and increases in revenue sources for local taxing entities.

District Attorney Chad Taylor announces that Austin Craig Tabor of Topeka, Kansas pled no contest and was convicted today of the following offenses in connection with homicide and drug charges related to an October 23, 2010 incident at Topeka West
High School: Murder in the Second Degree, a severity level 1, person felony, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a severity level 3, person felony, Conspiracy to Distribute a Hallucinogenic Drug within 1000 feet of a school, a severity level
2 drug offense, and Attempted Distribution of a Hallucinogenic Drug within 1000 feet of a school, a severity level 2 drug offense. Shawnee County District Court Judge Mark Braun accepted the defendant's pleas and set sentencing for
November 26, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. The case was investigated by the Topeka Police Department with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the U.S.D. 501 Police Department.

Mike Beebe:
Heavier penalties for drug trade; but not for possession

Our drug statutes must put a stronger emphasis and heavier penalties on those involved with the drug trade, instead of giving equally harsh sentences to those merely arrested for mere possession or use. Previous legislatures have built a grid of
sentencing guidelines, a grid that is often manipulated or ignored to put away offenders for even longer stretches of time. Those guidelines must be more closely followed, or perhaps those jurisdictions that frequently exceed the grid should share in th
cost of incarceration with our state. My proposed budget adds more than $4 million to help accommodate the Dept. of Community Correction's anticipated larger role.

The North Little Rock Police Chief said: "We're not talking about being tough on crime,
or soft on crime; we're talking about being smart on crime." When it comes to criminal activity, we've got to make sure that the bad guys who will hurt you--the violent criminals or the career criminals--are the ones we lock away and save the beds for.

Source: 2011 Arkansas State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011

Joe Bellis:
No mandatory prison sentences for selling drugs

Q: Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?

A: No.

Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?

A: No.

Q:
Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?

A: No.

Q: Other topics?

A: Federal government invention in criminal issues should be limited to constitutionally mandated federal crimes.

Mike Huckabee:
Treatment for drug use instead of incarceration

We’ll ask for drug courts to be expanded because it makes more sense to treat people with a drug problem rather than simply incarcerating them and putting them in a place where their problems are not dealt with. That’s one of our initiatives.

Source: 2001 State of the State address to the Arkansas legislature
Jan 9, 2001